Page 5 - Black Velvet Issue 86

BV86 pg05:BV86 pg05 05/09/2015 01:40 Page 1

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 5

A (Musical) Note From...

Ryan Lilly - Screaming Eagles

Screaming Eagles were born off the back sticks like you wouldn’t believe! Ross Cullen, at Railway Recording Studio in
of a few other bands that had disbanded. As we began jamming we realised pretty Lisburn. We didn’t have any preconceived
Adrian and I have been side by side from the quickly that we gelled perfectly together, we ideas or direction for the new material, we sim-
very start making music for the best part of 16 had very similar tastes in music and this made ply jammed and formulated the tracks as we
years and we’ve known each other even it all the easier, it felt natural. We do get on well went along, whatever felt good made the cut
longer than that, much like the Angus as a band. There are some of us who are ex- and the songs that didn’t, well... didn’t. Al-
Young/Cliff Williams or Dave Mustaine/David tremely driven, some easy going and relaxed. though songs are never totally discarded,
Ellefson kinda thing. Although we actually did- There are the jokers and mood lighteners and they’re put on the backburner for another time.
n’t first meet through music but through sport! there are the sensible level-headed (we know We’ve realised that taking a step back for a
When we were a lot younger we used to play who we are!)... this gives us the perfect bal- while from something that initially wasn’t quite
football, each area of where we lived in Ban- ance we think you’d need for this game. working can help spark something again. We
bridge had its own team which basically con- Our debut album, ‘From The Flames’, was don’t really know how other bands go about
sisted of neighbours/mates who ran about revered by various press, critics, rock lovers their writing process. For us, it’s a case of
together and we played each other a few and fans from our own shores here in Northern someone bringing a riff, a melody, bass line or
times, he had a decent right boot on him. We Ireland, throughout Europe and as far away as drum beat and then it’s taken from there, and
got talking one day and realised that we both Japan, South America and the USA. ‘From the fact that we enjoy dabbling with each
played guitars so naturally we met up, com- The Flames’ was a fitting title for the record, it other’s instruments from time to time also
pared music collections and swopped videos, was the result of all our other bands’ demises gives us a little edge, it helps us understand
cassettes, CD’s etc. Still to this day he is that we were involved in at the time, their more what might work in a particular verse or
adamant that he loaned me a VHS of G’N’R crashing and burning.. From these embers chorus, breakdown or ending and be able to
Live in Tokyo ’92 and that I didn’t give him it came those 10 tracks that paved the way for communicate what we’re thinking.
back. We’ll just have to agree to disagree on Screaming Eagles! We had many highlights ‘Stand Up And Be Counted’ has 10 tracks
that one. during our last few years together playing of full throttle rock ‘n’ roll and all our individual
There have been numerous personnel some fantastic shows around the UK and Eu- influences are prevalent in this record. You
come and go over the years with various dif- rope. A standout moment came in the incred- don’t hear many bands say their newest offer-
ferent band names. There was ‘Exit’, ‘McFly’ ible start to 2015 with signing a licensing ing isn’t quite as good as their last offering, it’s
(they weren’t about at the time) and ‘Sound- agreement with Sony Music Pictures in the US always better. It’s funny that, because we think
stone’ to name a few. After Soundstone ran its who wanted to feature our debut single, ‘Rock that too... but we actually mean it! We are re-
course we weren’t sure whether or not we N’ Roll Soul’ in the first episode of the final sea- ally looking forward to playing new songs, it
were going to continue but there was always son of the Hit American TV series ‘Justified’ gives our set so much more now and we’re re-
that itch that couldn’t be scratched with being with an audience of more than 4 million. We ally excited to see how the record is received.
just a bedroom guitarist. We knew deep down had to pinch ourselves! It was an extremely Our first single/video called ‘Save Me’ was re-
we had too much material and ideas for cool proud moment for our label, fans, friends and leased worldwide on Off Yer Rocka Record-
rock n’ roll songs to hang up our guitars. So, family. ings and the album is now available via the
the auditioning process began and we estab- With such a successful debut comes the usual outlets. Why don’t you go see what all
lished our current line-up fronted by Chris Fry pressure of the eagerly anticipated follow up. the fuss is about and buy it? Best money you’ll
(vocals) who I’ve also been friends with for We had toured and played consistently for spend... or your money back!
years but he had other musical commitments, nearly two years... the time had come to take Thanks for taking time out to read this and
no question he was always the frontman for us a break from playing shows to spending more hopefully see some of you at a future show.
we just had to wait and bide our time. Our ver- time in our rehearsal space to create another Rock out and peace out!
sion of ‘Animal’ from The Muppets, Kyle Cruik- monster. As was the first time round, again we Ryan
shank, came down to Banbridge to audition. I were flowing with ideas. Between the four of
remember an article on the Chili Peppers re- us, we have a wide range of musical tastes, For more info on Screaming Eagles visit
calling their audition with Chad and how they from Blues to Rock and Metal, Soul and even www.screamingeaglesrock.com for more info.
hadn’t seen anyone hit the drums as hard and some Pop influences and this is evident.
that was my first thought of Kyle. Still to this ‘Stand Up And Be Counted’ had been written In a band? Want to write a one-off col-
day I’ve never seen anyone on the scene hit and recorded in the early part of 2015 at Rail- umn for Black Velvet? Get in touch. Email
them as hard as he does, he goes through way Studios with the help of our producer, editor@blackvelvetmagazine.com.

SCREAMING EAGLES